Head-lamp closure or shutter



Nov. 13, 1945. n c, H. KUscHEL ET AL 2,388,783

HEADLAMP CLOSURE OR SHUTTER Filed Aug. 50, 1941 Patented Nov. 13, 1945 Clarence H. Kuschel and Herbert C. Brill, Detroit, Mich., assignors to Briggs Manufacturing Company, Detroit, Mich., `a corporation of Michigan Application August 30, 19411, Serial No. 408,9719

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to motor vehicle bodies and more particularly to closure means, covers, or masks for the Iheadlamps of such bodies for `the purpose of concealing or masking 'the same from view at predetermined times.

lOne of the objects of the present invention is to provide a motor vehicle body 'in which the frontal surface -or portion is provided with an opening behind which is -disposed a lamp, and closure 'or vmasking means for the opening under thecontrol of Athe vehicle operator, which means is movable into and out vof closed position 'beneath -or behind La -body frontal portion, such as Ya `front fender of the vehicle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an Limproved'device of theforegoing character which is adaptedto close anopeningformed in -a frontal portion of the vehicle body, such -as a lfront fender of said vehicle, vto preserve the streamlining or normal contour of said body.

Another object of the present invention is to 'provide-an improved device of the foregoing `character having improved Yclosuremeans or a cover 'for the -opening which when in open position provides a -visor or projecting portion located abovethe headlamp and extending forwardly of 'the opening.

A further Aobject of the present invention is to provide an improved headlamp cover, mask, or closure member and means for mounting the same -whichis 'of relatively simple and inexpensive construction.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following description and appended claims when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

In said drawing:

` in the accompanying drawing, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being (Cl. .24U-7.1)

Fig. 1 is an enlarged vertical sectional view,-

practiced or carried out in various Ways. Also it is -to 'be understood -that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

The present invention contemplatesv a novel arrangement by which the closure, cover member or mask for the headlamp is placed in an open lposition with respect `tothe opening in the frontal surface of the motor vehicle when it is desired to light -the headlamp Aand which -is placed in closed position with respect to said opening when the headlamp is unlighted.

Referring 4now particularly to the drawing, -B represents -a fragment of a frontal surface or portion of a motor vehicle, such as a front -fender -thereof which is `provided with an opening 9 in lits front face or surface, said opening being adapted to Vbe closed by a movable closure member, lid 'or mask, shown at ID. Located behind `the opening 9 and inline therewith is a headlamp `I'I of conventional structure having a lens IIa.

VThe headlamp is intended to Yproject'rays of light through the opening when the closure or cover member -I 0 is in its open -position as indicated in Abroken linesin Fig. 2.

-|The headlamp -I-I is preferably supported in position behind the opening formed in the vfender by means of a bracket member or support having Aaportion 'I'2 `andportion I3 extending therefrom. This Supporting bracket I2, I3 is preferably attachedito the headlamp and also to the rear wall of aLhousing-or vcasing located beneath the fender B and indicated as a whole at I4. This member or housing I4 comprises a rear wall I5, a bottom wall I6 and an arcuate top wall I1, together with end or side Walls I8 and I9. It will be seen that the portion I2 of the bracket is secured, as by means of welding, to the inner face of the rear or back wall I5 of the housing or casing. The closure member or lid I is preferably mounted upon and supported by a swinging bracket having a cross member or portion 20 which is substantially U-shaped in cross section and which has rearwardly extending arms or portions 2l. These arms provide leg members of the cross member and each is provided with an aperture which is adapted to be aligned with an aperture in an adjacent bearing support 22 for the reception oi a pin 23 by which the closure IIJ is mounted for swinging movement. The bearing supports 22 are mounted, respectively, upon the inner faces of the end or side walls I8 and I9 of the housing or casing member I4, being attached to the walls by bolts, screws or if desired they may be riveted or Welded to said Walls. A cross member 24 havmember 24.

ing offset end portions 25 extends between the side walls and between the side portions 2l of the closure bracket, the offset end portions 25 being secured thereto by the rivets 26, see particularly Fig. l.

The lid or closure member l0 is adapted to be moved from its closed position as shown in full lines to its open position as shown in broken lines, Fig; 2, through the medium ofthe bracket member 2l and cross member 24, 25, by means of a push and pull operating rod 21 which isv secured to the member 24. It will be understood that this operating rodg2'l is connected by links and levers or other suitable mechanical or hyf draulic elements to a remote control device within easy reach of the operator of the vehicle.

It will be seen, reference being had particularly to Fig. 2 of Ithe drawing, thatwhen thelid or closure member l0 is in its elevated position, the forward portion thereof projects outwardly or forwardly through the opening formed in the fender B. Thus, the forward portion of the lid or closure provides a visor or shield for the opening formed in the fender in advance of the headlamp I l. y

While we have shown one form of mechanical control or operating means for shifting the lid or closure member I0 from its closed to open position, and vice versa, it will be understood that other suitable means may be employed.

A s shown in Fig. 1 it may be desirable to provide spring means for moving the lid intouopen yposition and therebyonly necessitate use of the -rod 21 to close the lid.

spring 28 may be provided, the lower end of which In such case a tension v position.

We claim: 1.` 'Ihe combination with a motor vehicle `frontal portion having an opening formed therein, ofa headlamp disposed behind said opening,

a closure member for said opening, and means for swinging said closure member relatively to the headlamp to uncover said opening by shifting the lower end thereof outwardly of the opening and upwards and shifting the upper end thereof rearwardly of the opening or vice versa to close said opening, said closure member in open position projecting through the upper end of -the opening in advance of the headlamp to provide a visor.

2. The combination with a motor vehicle f frontal portion having an opening formed therein, a headlamp mounted in fixed position in rear `upper end thereofY rearwardly of the opening.

3. The combination with a vehicle frontal portion having an opening formed therein, a headlamp disposed behind said opening, a closure member for said opening movable independently of the headlamp between the latter and said opening into closed and opened positions with `respect to said opening, and means for shifting said closure member relatively to the headlamp to uncover said opening by shifting the lower yend outwardly and upwards and the upper end inwardly thereby to position the closure member above said headlamp into position to form a visor therefor.

4. The combination with a vehicle frontal portion having an opening formed therein, a headlamp disposed in ixed position behind said opening, a closure member for said opening movable independently of the headlamp between the latter and said opening into closed and opened positions with respect to said opening, and means for shifting said closure member relatively to the headlamp to uncover said opening by shifting the lower end outwardly and upwards and the upper end inwardly thereby to position the closure member above said headlamp with the lower portion ofthe closure member projecting forwardly `CMRENCE H. KUSCHEL. HERBERT o. BRILL. 

